Information processing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An information processing method comprises: transmitting first image data to an external image processing apparatus and receiving second image data processed by the external image processing apparatus; extracting a feature amount according to a content of image processing performed by the external image processing apparatus from the first image data; and converting the extracted feature amount to displayable information and displaying the information on a display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus andmethod, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus andmethod in a system that performs image processing using an externalimage processing apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, an image capturing apparatus such as a digital camera ora smartphone compresses data input from an image sensor such as a CCD ora CMOS sensor based on an image format such as JPEG or TIFF, and recordsit as image data on a storage medium such as a memory card. Since theabove-mentioned compression process generally adopts lossy coding, theuser cannot significantly readjust the image data later.

However, in recent years, in some image capturing apparatuses such assmartphones and digital cameras, it has become possible to digitize anelectric signal read out from an image sensor as it is and record it asimage data. Hereinafter, the image data recorded in this way will bereferred to as “RAW image data”. By developing the RAW image data on aPC or the like, the user can finish the image closer to the user'sintention than developing it on the image capturing apparatus. JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 2005-251166 discloses a method for developing RAWimage data.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-288555 discloses a techniquefor visualizing the effect of image processing as described above, andif contents of the image processing are fixed, it is possible to extractinformation indicating a feature amount of image data and generate adisplay image by combining the extracted information and the image data.

Further, in recent years, by using a so-called cloud service, a user candevelop RAW image data in a relatively short time using a server in thecloud (hereinafter, referred to as a “cloud server”).

On the other hand, there is a demand that a user wants to transmit imagedata to the cloud server after confirming in advance the effect of imageprocessing to be executed on the cloud server (hereinafter referred toas “cloud image processing”) within a predictable range. For example,such a demand occurs when the cloud image processing service is apay-per-use service or when there is a limit on the number forprocessing images.

However, in cloud image processing, it is conceivable that theprocessing contents may be changed after the operation of the cloudservice is started, or the user may select and execute an executionfunction among a plurality of image processing candidates includingdevelopment processing when executing cloud image processing. Asdescribed above, since the image processing contents are not fixed, thetechnique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-288555 cannotbe applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the abovesituation, and enables a user to confirm the effect of cloud imageprocessing within a predictable range before the cloud image processingis actually performed.

According to the present invention, provided is an informationprocessing method comprising: transmitting first image data to anexternal image processing apparatus and receiving second image dataprocessed by the external image processing apparatus; extracting afeature amount according to a content of image processing performed bythe external image processing apparatus from the first image data; andconverting the extracted feature amount to displayable information anddisplaying the information on a display.

Further, according to the present invention, provided is an informationprocessing apparatus comprising: an external interface that transmitsfirst image data to an external image processing apparatus and receivessecond image data processed by the external image processing apparatus;a control circuit that extracts a feature amount according to a contentof image processing performed by the external image processing apparatusfrom the first image data, converts the extracted feature amount todisplayable information, and displays the information on a display.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, provided is anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the storage mediumstoring a program that is executable by the computer, wherein theprogram includes program code for performing the causing the computer tofunction as an information processing apparatus, comprising: an externalinterface that transmits first image data to an external imageprocessing apparatus and receives second image data processed by theexternal image processing apparatus; a control circuit that extracts afeature amount according to a content of image processing performed bythe external image processing apparatus from the first image data,converts the extracted feature amount to displayable information, anddisplays the information on a display.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of animage information processing system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of apersonal computer (PC) according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of aserver according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a software configurationof the image information processing system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data management informationaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of image processing effectpresentation processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of RAW development processingaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of update processing of imageprocessing by a server according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of processes in a PC associatedwith the update processing of the image processing by the serveraccording to the embodiment; and

FIGS. 10A to 10D are explanatory views showing an example of a methodfor visualizing an effect of the image processing according to theembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intendedto limit the scope of the claimed invention, and limitation is not madean invention that requires a combination of all features described inthe embodiments. Two or more of the multiple features described in theembodiments may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, the samereference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, andredundant description thereof is omitted.

System Configuration

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of animage information processing system according to the present embodiment.A personal computer (PC) 100 communicates data with a server 300(external image processing apparatus) via a public network 200. Theconfiguration of each apparatus will be described later. In this datacommunication, in particular, image data, such as still image data andmoving image data, captured by a digital camera or the like istransmitted and received. For example, the PC 100 transmits image datato the server 300 via the public network 200, and the server 300develops the image data received from the PC 100. Then, the server 300returns the developed image data to the PC 100 via the public network200. In this way, the PC 100 can develop the image data by using theserver 300.

Configuration of the PC 100

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of thePC 100 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, astationary apparatus such as a personal computer will be described as anexample, but the present invention is not limited to this, and anyterminal capable of communicating with the server 300, for example, anotebook PC, a tablet, a smartphone or the like, may be used.

A control circuit 101 controls each unit of the PC 100 according toinput signals and programs described later. Instead of the controlcircuit 101 controlling the entirety of the PC 100, a plurality ofhardware may share the processing to control the entirety of the PC 100.

A non-volatile memory 103 is an electrically erasable and recordablenon-volatile memory such as an HDD or SSD. The non-volatile memory 103records an operating system (OS), which is basic software executed bythe control circuit 101, and application programs that realizeapplication functions in cooperation with the OS. Further, thenon-volatile memory 103 stores application programs capable ofperforming image processing on image data such as RAW image data(hereinafter, referred to as an “image processing application”). The RAWimage data will be described later.

A work memory 104 is a volatile memory and is used as a work area of thecontrol circuit 101, a data save area at the time of error processing,and so forth.

An operation member 105 is used to receive an instruction to the PC 100from the user, and includes, for example, a power button for the user toinstruct the power on/off of the PC 100, input devices such as akeyboard and a mouse. The operation member 105 also includes a touchpanel formed on a display 106 which will be described later. Theoperation member 105 does not necessarily have to be built in the PC100, and the PC 100 can be connected to the internal or externaloperation member 105.

The display 106 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic ELdisplay, or the like, and displays characters or images for interactiveoperation. In addition, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the imageprocessing application is also displayed on the display 106. The display106 does not necessarily have to be built in the PC 100, and the PC 100may be connected to the internal or external display 106 and may atleast have a function of controlling displayed contents on the display106.

A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) 108 is an image processing circuitspecialized in image processing. By using the GPU 108, the controlcircuit 101 can display image data on the display 106 and execute imageprocessing such as development processing on the image data.

An external recording device 110 is a device that performs reading andwriting from/to an external recording medium (not shown) that can beattached to and detached from the PC 100. When programs and image dataare recorded on an external recording medium, they are read into thework memory 104 via the external recording device 110. The externalrecording medium is a non-volatile memory that can be attached to anddetached from the PC 100, represented by, for example, an optical disksuch as DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-RAM, a flexible disk, a magnetic disksuch as MO, a magneto-optical disk, and a flash memory

The PC 100 can send and receive data to and from the external apparatusvia an external interface 111. For example, the PC 100 can be connectedto an image capturing apparatus such as a digital camera via theexternal interface 111 to transmit and receive data. The communicationby the external interface 111 may be either wired communication orwireless communication.

Configuration of the Server 300

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of theserver 300 in this embodiment.

A control circuit 301 controls each unit of the server 300 according toinput signals and programs described later. Instead of the controlcircuit 301 controlling the entirety of the server 300, a plurality ofhardware may share the processing to control the entirety of the server300.

A non-volatile memory 303 is an electrically erasable and recordablenon-volatile memory such as an HDD, SSD, ROM, flash memory, opticaldisk, and the like. The non-volatile memory 303 records an operatingsystem (OS), which is basic software executed by the control circuit301, and application programs that realize application functions incooperation with the OS. Further, the non-volatile memory 303 storesimage processing application programs.

A work memory 304 is a volatile memory and is used as a work area of thecontrol circuit 301, a data save area at the time of error processing,and so forth.

An operation member 305 is used to receive an instruction to the server300 from the user, and includes, for example, a power button for theuser to instruct the power on/off of the server 300, input devices suchas a keyboard and a mouse. The operation member 305 does not necessarilyhave to be built in the server 300, and the server 300 can be connectedto the internal or external operation member 305.

A GPU 308 is an image processing circuit specialized in imageprocessing. By using the GPU 308, the control circuit 301 can displayimage data on a display (not shown) and execute arithmetic processing.

The server 300 can send and receive data to and from the externalapparatus via an external interface 311. For example, the server 300 canbe connected to an image capturing apparatus such as a digital cameraand an external computer via the external interface 311 to transmit andreceive data. The communication by the external interface 311 may beeither wired communication or wireless communication.

Configuration of System Software

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration ofthe image information processing system in the present embodiment. Theimage information processing system consists of one or more of the PCs100 (client terminal) and one or more of the servers 300 (cloudterminal). In particular, since the server 300 is a cloud server, thefunctions may be distributed to a plurality of physical servers andvirtual servers to provide a cloud image processing function.

The server 300 includes an image processing module 401, a job controlmodule 402, a data management module 403, an unprocessed data receivingmodule 404, a data storage module 405, a processed data transmissionmodule 406, an update information transmission module 407, and an imageprocessing updating module 408. Each of the modules 401 to 408constituting the server 300 is realized by loading the program recordedin the non-volatile memory 303 to the work memory 304 and executing theloaded program by the control circuit 301.

The PC 100 includes a data storage module 409, an unprocessed datatransmission module 410, a data management module 411, a job controlmodule 412, an image processing effect presentation module 413, an imageprocessing effect presentation method updating module 414, an updateinformation receiving module 415, and a processed data receiving module416. Each of the modules 410 to 416 constituting the PC 100 is realizedby loading the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 103 to thework memory 104 and executing the expanded program by the controlcircuit 101. The image processing effect presentation module 413includes a subject analysis module 417, an effect area estimation module418, and an effect presentation module 419.

Cloud Development

The cloud development process starts when the job control module 412sends RAW image data stored in the data storage module 409 to the imageprocessing effect presentation module 413 together with an imageprocessing effect presentation instruction via the data managementmodule 411. The image processing effect presentation instruction and theRAW image data are transmitted in response to a transmission instructionof the RAW image data output as the user operates the operation member105 of the PC 100.

When the image processing effect presentation module 413 receives theRAW image data together with the image processing effect presentationinstruction, the image processing effect presentation module 413performs image processing effect presentation processing describedlater. After that, when the user instructs to send the image to theserver 300, the job control module 412 sends the RAW image data storedin the data storage module 409 together with an instruction to performRAW development processing described later to the server 300 via thedata management module 411 using the unprocessed data transmissionmodule 410.

When the server 300 receives the RAW image data from the PC 100 by theunprocessed data receiving module 404, it stores the RAW image data inthe data storage module 405. At that time, information on the RAW imagedata is also stored in the data management module 403. The job controlmodule 402 controls to read out the RAW image data stored in the datastorage module 405 via the data management module 403, perform the RAWdevelopment processing described later using the image processing module401, and store the result in the data storage module 405 via the datamanagement module 403.

After that, the result of the RAW development processing stored in thedata storage module 405 is transmitted to the PC 100 using the processeddata transmission module 406. Then, based on preset data deletionpolicy, the data management module 403 deletes the RAW image data andthe result of the RAW development processing stored in the data storagemodule 405 as necessary. Deletion conditions of the data deletion policymay be set as appropriate. For example, the deletion conditions includea setting such that the RAW image data and the result of the RAWdevelopment processing will be deleted after a predetermined number ofdays after the result of the RAW development processing is transmittedto another terminal.

In the PC 100, the result of the RAW development processing is receivedby the processed data receiving module 416 and stored in the datastorage module 409. At that time, the data management module 411 storesinformation that associates the RAW image data with the result of theRAW development processing. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, it isconceivable to store the ID of the RAW image data (RAW image ID in thefigure) and the ID of the result of the RAW development processing (RAWdevelopment result ID in the figure) as a pair.

Image Processing Effect Presentation Processing

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of image processing effectpresentation processing in the present embodiment, which is executed byusing the image processing effect presentation module 413. The imageprocessing effect presentation processing is to estimate the effect ofat least one of image processes executed in the course of the RAWdevelopment processing, described later, to be executed using the imageprocessing module 401 before the RAW development processing is actuallyexecuted by the image processing module 401, and presents the estimatedeffect to the user.

In step S601, the image processing effect presentation module 413 waitsuntil the RAW image data is received together with the image processingeffect presentation instruction, and proceeds to step S602 uponreceiving the RAW image data and the instruction.

In step S602, in the image processing effect presentation module 413, asubject analysis instruction and the RAW image data are input to thesubject analysis module 417. Then, the subject analysis module 417extracts a feature amount from the RAW image data according to thecontent of process performed by the image processing module 401 in orderto determine whether the effect of the process performed by the imageprocessing module 401 is high. For example, in a case where a noisereduction process is performed by the image processing module 401, sincethe degree of low contrast in each image area is extracted as a featureamount, the feature amount is extracted by analyzing the distribution ofthe results of the discrete Fourier transform processing performed oneach image area.

It should be noted that data to be processed does not have to be RAWimage data. For example, a preview image of RAW image data or an imageobtained as a result of applying simple RAW development to RAW imagedata using an image processing module (not shown) in the PC 100 may beused. Further, since the feature amount to be extracted differsdepending on the image processing of which the effect is to bevisualized, it is necessary to change an extraction method of thefeature amount according to the feature amount to be extracted.

As another method for extracting the feature amount, an extractionmethod in which spatial filtering processing, conversion processing tothe spatial frequency domain, or the like are performed and low-contrastpixel enhancement, edge enhancement, or the like are performed may beconsidered. As a more specific example, in the spatial filteringprocessing, a filter such as a high-pass filter or a low-pass filter maybe realized using the filtering processing of N×M pixels. Further, inthe conversion to the spatial frequency domain, the low frequency regionand the high frequency region may be enhanced or reduced throughconversion using DCT, Wavelet transform, or the like.

The subject analysis module 417 outputs an effect area estimationinstruction and the RAW image data to the effect area estimation module418 together with the extracted feature amount.

In step S603, when the effect area estimation module 418 receives theeffect area estimation instruction, the feature amount, and the RAWimage data, the effect area estimation module 418 performs imageprocessing so that the effect area becomes easily recognizable by theuser, and generates a displayable image. For example, image processingis performed such as binarizing the feature amount with a predeterminedthreshold value, removing isolated points, and smoothing the outline ofthe effect area. After that, the effect area estimation module 418 usesthe resultant image of the RAW image data which has undergone simple RAWdevelopment using an image processing module (not shown) in the PC 100as a base image, overlays the processed image data on the base image tocreate a superimposed image.

In the overlay processing, for example, it is conceivable that when thepixel value of the image processed so that the effect area is easilyrecognized is less than a predetermined threshold value, the pixel valueof the base image is used, and when it is equal to or greater than thethreshold value, the pixel value of the image processed so that theeffect area is easily recognized is used. For example, when the baseimage is as shown in FIG. 10A, it is conceivable that the contour of theeffect region of the superimposed image is emphasized and the brightnessof the region having a higher effect is increased as shown in FIG. 10B.Further, it is conceivable to further simplify the expression of theeffect area and to emphasize the outline of the effect area and expressthe effect area with cross-hatching as shown in FIG. 10C. Then, theeffect area estimation module 418 sends the superimposed image and theimage processing effect presentation instruction to the effectpresentation module 419.

In step S604, when the effect presentation module 419 receives the imageprocessing effect presentation instruction and the superimposed image,the effect presentation module 419 displays the superimposed image onthe display 106 via the job control module 412.

Although the number of image processing executed by the image processingmodule 401 has not been mentioned above, a plurality of image processingmay be executed. In that case, the following processing is performed insteps S602 and S603.

In step S602, the subject analysis module 417 extracts the featureamounts corresponding to the contents of image processing performed bythe image processing module 401 from the RAW image data for the numberof types of image processing.

Next, in step S603, when the effect area estimation module 418 receivesthe effect area estimation instruction, the feature amounts for thenumber of types of image processing, and the RAW image data, imageprocessing is performed so that the user can easily recognize the effectarea, and an image is generated for each image processing. After that,the effect area estimation module 418 uses the resultant image of theRAW image data which has undergone simple RAW development using an imageprocessing module (not shown) in the PC 100 as a base image, overlaysthe processed image data on the base image to create a superimposedimage.

In the overlay process, for example, if the base image is the bottomlayer and the image processed so that the effect area is easilyrecognized and to be newly superimposed is a new layer, new layers aresequentially stacked in order from the bottom layer based on apredetermined priority. For example, when a pixel value of a new layeris less than a predetermined threshold value, the pixel value of thesuperimposed image is taken, and when the pixel value the new layer isgreater than or equal to the threshold value, the pixel value of the newlayer is taken. At that time, the predetermined threshold value isindependently set for each image processing executed in the imageprocessing module 401. After that, the effect area estimation module 418sends the superimposed image and the image processing effectpresentation instruction to the effect presentation module 419.

Further, the base image used for the overlay processing does not have tobe the resultant image of simple RAW development. For example, previewimage data included in the RAW image data or JPEG image data taken atthe same time, which is different from the RAW image data, may be used.

In addition, there may be a function for hiding the superimposed imageso that the user can confirm the base image. For example, when the userpresses a button for hiding the effect area, the image shown in FIGS.10B and 10C may be replaced with the image shown in FIG. 10A. As aresult, it is possible to avoid the problem that the base image becomesdifficult to see because the areas where the image processing effect ishigh are superimposed and displayed.

RAW Development Process

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the RAW developmentprocessing in the present embodiment executed by using the imageprocessing module 401. In the present embodiment, the image processingmodule 401 processes the RAW image data based on the attributeinformation included in the RAW image data.

First, in step S701, the image processing module 401 correctsaberrations and defective data caused by a defect of an image sensor ofa camera (not shown) of RAW image data. Next, the black level of the RAWimage data is adjusted in step S702, and the white balance of the RAWimage data is adjusted in step S703. Here, in the present embodiment,the white balance of the RAW image data is adjusted by the auto whitebalance function.

Next, the image processing module 401 reduces noise originated from animage sensor (not shown) in the RAW image data in step S704. Further, instep S705, pixel interpolation process is executed on the RAW imagedata.

Then, in step S706, the image processing module 401 stores the RAW imagedata processed in steps S701 to S705 as intermediate image data in thedata storage module 405 via the data management module 403, and ends theprocess.

Update of RAW Development Process

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of update processing of theimage processing in the present embodiment. This process is executed bythe administrator of the server 300 operating the operation member 305or by using the communication from the management terminal connected viathe external interface 311 as a trigger.

In step S801, the image processing updating module 408 of the server 300waits until an image processing update instruction is received. Uponreceiving the image processing update instruction, the image processingupdating module 408 sends the image processing update instruction to thejob control module 402.

In step S802, the job control module 402 that has received the imageprocessing update instruction updates the image processing module 401based on the image processing update instruction after executing theimage processing accompanying the RAW development processing on a jobgroup that has been received earlier.

In step S803, the job control module 402 acquires a list of terminalslogged in to the cloud development service from a login managementterminal (not shown) via the external interface 311. Then, the jobcontrol module 402 transmits image processing update information to theterminals on the acquired list by using the update informationtransmission module 407.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of update processing of theimage processing effect presentation method accompanying the update ofthe image processing module 401 in the present embodiment. Thisprocessing is executed by using an incident that the PC 100 receives theimage processing update information from the server 300 as a trigger.

In step S901, the update information receiving module 415 of the PC 100waits until the image processing update information is received via theexternal interface 311.

In step S902, when the update information receiving module 415 receivesthe image processing update information, it sends an image processingeffect presentation method updating instruction and the image processingupdate information to the image processing effect presentation methodupdating module 414 via the job control module 412. The image processingeffect presentation method updating module 414 updates the imageprocessing effect presentation module 413 when it receives the imageprocessing effect presentation method updating instruction and the imageprocessing update information.

When updating the image processing effect presentation module 413, forexample, the image processing update information may include updatedsoftware for at least one of the subject analysis module 417, the effectarea estimation module 418, and the effect presentation module 419. Inthat case, the image processing effect presentation method is updated byreplacing the existing software of each module with the updated softwareincluded in the image processing update information.

Further, the entire software (modules 410 to 419) running on the PC 100may be updated collectively. For example, it is conceivable to receivean installer capable of collectively updating the entire software asimage processing update information from the update informationtransmission module 407 and execute it in the image processing effectpresentation method updating module 414.

In addition, a URL for downloading the installer for the batch updateand the version information for identifying the installer may bereceived from the update information transmission module 407. It isconceivable that the image processing effect presentation methodupdating module 414 downloads the installer via the external interface111 of the PC 100 using the received URL and version information, andthe image processing effect presentation method updating module 414executes the installer.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the subject analysis module 417,the effect area estimation module 418, and the effect presentationmodule 419, each realizes the module itself by executing a detachablemodule according to the contents of image processing executed by theimage processing module 401. In that case, each module is received fromthe update information transmission module 407 as image processingupdate information. After that, the image processing effect presentationmethod updating module 414 may replace an existing module with thereceived module, as needed.

In the above-described embodiment, in order to express that the effectof the image processing is high, the high effect region is superimposedon the base image as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, but the superimposeddisplay does not have to be performed. For example, an image showingonly the effect region of FIGS. 10B and 10C (the cross-hatched regionimage of FIG. 10C) and the base image of FIG. 10A may be separatelydisplayed without overlapping each other. The advantage of notsuperimposing the high effect region is that the base image is nothidden, so it is easy to check the base image.

In addition, in a case where the number of pixels in the regiondetermined to have a high image processing effect is equal to or greaterthan a predetermined threshold value, information indicating that theimage processing effect is high may be superimposed as shown in FIG. 10Dor may be displayed near the base image shown in FIG. 10A so as not tohide the base image.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user cangrasp in advance the expected effect when the cloud image processingwill be executed. Then, the user can determine whether or not to use thecloud image processing according to the expected effect.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-017235, filed on Feb. 4, 2020 which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing method comprising:transmitting first image data to an external image processing apparatusand receiving second image data processed by the external imageprocessing apparatus; extracting a feature amount according to a contentof image processing performed by the external image processing apparatusfrom the first image data; and converting the extracted feature amountto displayable information and displaying the information on a display.2. The information processing method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, in a case where the image processing by theexternal image processing apparatus is changed, information on changedimage processing; changing the feature amount to be extracted accordingto the information on the changed image processing.
 3. The informationprocessing method according to claim 1, wherein the information isdisplayed on the display by being superimposed on the first image data.4. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein thefirst image data and the information are displayed separately on thedisplay.
 5. The information processing method according to claim 1,wherein the information is on a region where the feature amount is equalto or greater than a first threshold.
 6. The information processingmethod according to claim 1, wherein the information indicates that theeffect to be expected by the image processing is high in a case where anumber of pixels included in a region where the feature amount is equalto or greater than a first threshold is equal to or greater than asecond threshold.
 7. The information processing method according toclaim 1, wherein, in a case where there are a plurality of types ofimage processing that the external image processing apparatus performs,the feature amount according to the content of each type of the imageprocessing is extracted.
 8. The information processing method accordingto claim 1 further comprising performing predetermined second imageprocessing on the first image data, wherein the first image data isimage data before undergone the second image processing.
 9. Theinformation processing method according to claim 1 further comprisingperforming predetermined second image processing on the first imagedata, wherein the first image data is image data after undergone thesecond image processing.
 10. An information processing apparatuscomprising: an external interface that transmits first image data to anexternal image processing apparatus and receives second image dataprocessed by the external image processing apparatus; a control circuitthat extracts a feature amount according to a content of imageprocessing performed by the external image processing apparatus from thefirst image data, converts the extracted feature amount to displayableinformation, and displays the information on a display.
 11. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the storage mediumstoring a program that is executable by the computer, wherein theprogram includes program code for performing the causing the computer tofunction as an information processing apparatus, comprising: an externalinterface that transmits first image data to an external imageprocessing apparatus and receives second image data processed by theexternal image processing apparatus; a control circuit that extracts afeature amount according to a content of image processing performed bythe external image processing apparatus from the first image data,converts the extracted feature amount to displayable information, anddisplays the information on a display.